You Kill Me (2007)

Drama - an unusual look at the life of a New York hitman(Ben Kingsley)who has a severe drinking problem. In efforts to overcome his alcoholism, he moves to San Francisco and attends A.A.meetings. There he meets new people (including a lovely woman) and the struggle to reform himself begins. Though the tale is a bit dark, the acting is good and I found it refreshingly different. 92 min.

The Namesake (2007)

Drama - Indian Style - Follows 2 generations of the Ganguli family from Calcutta to New York. Such a realistic drama - not everyone lives to a ripe old age, and not every marriage survives. Colorful photography and fine acting make this a pleasure to watch. And such keen insights into the nature of bicultural kids and East versus West. 2 hours of wonderful emotion.

Hoop Dreams (1994)

Basketball Documentary - 2 inner city Chicago high school basketballers have great hopes to become NBA pros. Film takes a very close and honest look at their lives at home, at school, and on the court. High School and into college. No actors here, this is the real deal. Fine basketball footage and live interviews are edited with great care. Though nearly 3 hours long the time passes quickly and enjoyably. Very educational. Do our 2 stars make it to the NBA? I won't tell.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Dramedy - New York - Woody Allen Movie - 3 sisters and their relationships... Hannah (Mia Farrow) is married to an accountant (Michael Caine) and seems to have a stable life. Holly is an aspiring actress with a cocaine habit. Lee is living with an older man who is stifling her greatly. An interesting subplot begins as Hannah's husband falls in love with her younger sister Lee. And Woody Allen plays himself as a neurotic who thinks he may have a brain tumor. Enjoyable script and well-acted. 1 hr. 47 min.

King Lear (2000)

Shakespeare Play brought to screen. (made in 1984 though released 16 years later) Intricate and tragic tale of an aging King and his greedy daughters vying for power. Great performances by Laurence Olivier as the king and the other actors spouting the 400-year old language in rhyme with such force. Educational and entertaining. 2 hours 38 min.

Golden Door (2007)

Italian Drama set in 1913. Starts in Sicily - a group of rural Italians immigrate to the US at the beginning of the 20th century. Powerful photography and realism make this film. 3 parts - preparing for the journey, the perilous journey by boat, and the intense and scrutinizing US immigration procedures. Not your usual film but very educational and moving - you feel like you were there. 2 hours.

Eight Men Out (1988)

Baseball Drama Period Piece - based on a true story - the 1919 World Series scandal... The Chicago White Sox team members agree to throw the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds for a large sum of money. Low salaries and gangster influences temporarily destroy the purity of the game. This film investigates what happened. Fine acting and fun stars include Charlie Sheen, John Cusack and Christopher Lloyd. 2 hours.

OT: Our Town (2003)

Educational Documentary on the production of Our Town by a high school in Compton (L.A.). Black and Hispanic students join forces to put on the first play at Dominquez High School in 20 years! With no budget and a lot of work, they pull it off. This film documents their efforts. It was fun to watch these unusual kids get a chance to express themselves on stage. 77 min.

Tuck Everlasting (2002)

Dramatization of a classic novel - Fifteen-year-old Winnie Foster is the beautiful, privileged daughter of the richest man in town. But she longs for the outside world. She journeys to the forbidden woods and meets with incredible adventure, a family of immortals. To make things more entangled, she falls in love with the youngest boy. Fine performances and photography. Fun movie if you like this kind of drama/fantasy genre. A bit melodramatic but entertaining. 88 min.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)

Teenage Drama - Based on a best-selling novel about the lives of four lifelong friends. Babies born to mothers who met in a prenatal aerobics class, they grow up together in the same town. Though contrasting personalities, they share deep bonds to get them through some major personal crises. Film focuses on one particular summer where one girl stays at home to work a dull job, while another visits her father's new family in a different state, one attends soccer camp in Mexico, and the 4th visits relatives in Greece. Film title stems from a pair of jeans that fit each one of the girls though a bit differently and becomes a shared commodity this fateful summer, seeming to bring luck and good fortune. Unusual plot and but a bit melodramatic at times. The actors are loveable. 120 min.

The King (2005)

Human Drama -- Elvis (Gael García Bernal) is a young Mexican-American who has just finished 3 years in the navy and on discharge travels to Corpus Christi Texas in search of his long lost father (William Hurt) whom he has never met. Unfortunately his father has a family and kids (with different mother), is the preacher for a large Baptist church, and is NOT interested in having Elvis around. Serious complications arise when Elvis falls in love with the preacher's daughter. Fine acting all around with a most unusual and thoughtful plot. 1 hr. 45 min

Kinsey (2004)

Historical Drama (1940's) based on the life of Alfred Kinsey, famed American biologist and author of the book "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male". Interestingly, his first work on male sexuality was widely accepted but his attempt to follow up with "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female" was met with great opposition! This movie is very well-acted and presents a lot of interesting historical and academic information. I found it fascinating. Liam Neeson plays Kinsey. 129 min.

Match Point (2005)

Romantic/Suspence Drama - Irish-born tennis pro moves to London to teach tennis in a posh private sports club and is taken in by an extremely wealthy family. He marries the daughter and in exchange is given a fine job, apartment, chauffeur etc. Problem is, he falls desperately in love with his brother-in-law's fiance! 2 hours of intense acting as we see him struggle between the affections of both women. Who will he choose? And/or will he go crazy? Engrossing movie. Well done. Written/directed by Woody Allen.

Her Majesty

Family film - shot in beautiful New Zealand. Young girl (13) realizes her lifelong dream of meeting Queen Elizabeth when she comes to visit her small hometown. Acting is good though the story is a bit melodramatic. Plenty of themes for youth doing the right thing and displays of courage and tolerance in the face of adversity. Our child hero fights local prejudice for a remaining Maori woman in the community. Photography is excellent. Though the story is very Disney-like in its "goodness" it is entertaining. 105 min

The Holy Land (2003)

Drama - Young man studying to be a rabbi has problems with lust. His teacher recommends him to visit a prostitute to "get it out of his system". Unfortunately, the student falls in love with a young prostitute from Russia and things get very complicated. Excellent acting and photography and a fine engrossing story. I enjoyed the themes explored. Well done. 90 min.

Evelyn (2002)

Historical Drama (based on a true story) of an Irishman whose wife runs away with another man and leaves him in charge of 3 young children. Single, unemployed with a drinking problem, the Irish government lists him as an unfit father and his children are sent to orphanages. This is the story of his fight for custody. Fine acting all around and especially Pierce Brosnan as the dedicated father. Legal intrigue, some romance, and a tad of violence spice this movie and make it a joy to watch. Recommended. 1 hr 34 min.

Silver City (2004)

Mystery/Drama - a dead body is discovered in a lake while filming a publicity spot for the aspiring governor of Colorado. Lots of looks at big money corruption and local politics as a private detective and former news reporter uncovers evidence of illegal employment, dangerously neglectful disposal of toxic waste, and attempted murder. All star cast (Kris Kristopherson, Chris Cooper, Daryl Hannah, Richard Dreyfuss) and fine acting, though the story is a bit spotty at times and the ending ambiguous. Entertaining if you like mystery genre films. 2 hrs 13 min